Planning Regulations Ignored in Hotel Approval

Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA) condemns Thursday’s Planning Authority decision to permit an 11-storey hotel in a narrow Sliema residential street. This application has been hotly opposed by Sliema residents who had joined FAA’s press conference against this hotel development, saying that it would further aggravate traffic congestion in the area, and consequently increase pollution, as well as throwing their homes into deep shade and ‘uglifying’ the area.

The Planning Commission approval is especially reprehensible in the light of the PA Case Officer’s recommendation to refuse the permit.

Chairman Simon Saliba ignored the fact that the proposal runs counter to the PA policy which allows the additional height of only two floors over and above the 5-storey height limitation permitted in the Local Plan provided that:

“The resultant design features a high quality product in keeping with the urban context and no blank walls are created”.

The Class 3B hotel, that features some 83 bedrooms overlooking shafts is a far cry from a ‘quality hotel’.

As for blank party walls, the Case Officer had stated that:

“The [fake window] treatment to the blank party walls will not effectively mitigate the appearance of the resultant exposed blank party walls and will negatively impact on the site’s context. In this regard, the proposal also conflicts with the SPED which aims to ensure that all new developments improve amenity and the pleasantness of place.”

In spite of all this, the Chairman was from the outset clearly determined to grant the permit in spite of the fact that it does not meet with several of the Planning Authorities policies, including the fact that since the hotel will only be providing 15 out of 28 required car spaces, and no unloading bays, it would:

“Create an environment which goes diametrically against the local plan policy. Particular attention would need to be paid to the traffic and parking carrying capacity of the surrounding transportation network, neighbour compatibility issues as well as surrounding existing and planned use.” (Partial Review of Subsidiary Plans).

Sliema residents present at the hearing were disgusted at the approval which the Chairman justified on the grounds of ‘previous commitments’ quoted by the developer. Since the other hotels date back to before the Local Plans, this is signifies a total ditching of any form of planning, and a return to the free-for-all days under Lorry Sant.

09.01.2019